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Khus Khus

Botanical Name(s): Vetiveria Zizanoides
Family Name: Poaceae
Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular Plants)
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class: Liliopsida (Monocotyledons)
Subclass: Commelinidae
Order: Cyperales
Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
Genus: Vetiveria Bory (vetivergrass)
Species: Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash (vetivergrass)
Popular Name(s): Khas Khas, Cuscus and Vetivert
Parts Used: Roots and Essential oil
Habitat: Cultivated in plains and low hills of India

Description
Vetiveria zizanioides, also known as khas khas, khas or khus grass, is native to India. It is a densely tufted grass, with long, thin and rigid leaves and can grow up to 1.5 meters high. The grass grows well in rich marshy soil that is found throughout the plains and lower hills of India, especially on the riverbanks. The plant is different from the other grass forms, in that instead of having mat-like root systems, it befits in growing downwards and can grow up to 2-4 meters in depth. The plant is well known for its oil that is used in medicine and perfumery. Along with this, Khas Khas is also used for cooling purposes, flavoring sharbats, and making mats, hand fans etc. Today the plant is cultivated in the North Indian states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and in the South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Plant Chemicals
Its main chemical components are benzoic acid, vetiverol, furfurol, a and b-vetivone, vetivene and vetivenyl vetivenate. The chemical components of the oil obtained from the plant is benzoic acid, furfurol, vetivene, vetivenyl vetivenate, terpinen-4-ol, 5-epiprezizane, Khusimene, a-muurolene, Khusimone, Calacorene, ß-humulene, a-longipinene, ?-selinene, d-selinene,d-cadinene, valencene, Calarene,-gurjunene, a-amorphene, Epizizanal, 3-epizizanol, Khusimol, Iso-khusimol, Valerenol, ß-vetivone, a-vetivone, vetivazulene.

Uses & Benefits of Khus Khus
Caution